Bottle-filling machine.



G, ROWOHLT & 0. GIESEKE.l BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION P ILBD 1211.6, 1911.

1,025,649. d' Patented May 7, 1912. i

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. ROWOHLT & 0. GIESBKE. BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APRfG, 1911. 1,025,649, Patented May '7, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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GEORGE ROWOHLT AND OTTO GIESEKE, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

BOTTLE-FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7,1912.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE RowoHLT and OTTo GIESEKE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle- Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to bottle filling machines, and the objects of the invention are to improve upon the construction of such machines, increase the efiiciency and econ-4 omy of operation and enable a large num ber of bottles to be quickly and conveniently filled in a short space of time.

The invention is not limited to the filling of bottles as any suitable receptacles may be filled by the machine and the machine is adapted to fill said bott-les or receptacles with vario-us liquids, such as vinegar, spring water, wines, whisky, oil, milk and other liquids.

Other objects of the machine are to afford means for permitting t-he filled bottles to be replaced with empty bottles at the same time that other bottles are being filled, and to enable the necessary adjustments in the machine to bemade, whereby bottles or receptacles of diferent heights and sizes may be conveniently passed through the machine.

To all of these ends the invention consists of the machine substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation partly in longitudinal section, of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a det-ail horizontal sectional view partly broken away on the line L -4@ of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view partly broken away on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view partly broken away on the line G of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a vertical detail sectional view of one of the lifting rods at the end of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a suitable table or support on which is mounted the end frames B connected at the top by a suitable beam C. The bolts D secure the feet E of the frames to the table and said frames may be further braced by the braces F. A bottle or receptacle box or holder G is mounted on the table and is movable transversely, as by means 'of t-he slides H sliding on the tracks or guides J. liquid holding tank K is mounted in the frames B, over the bottle holder G and suitable stops L may be provided on the table for limiting the reciprocating movement of the bott-le holder G.

In accordance with this invention, means are provided for reciprocating the bottle holder on the slidesl J backward and forward underneath the tank K, and means are also provided for controlling the flow of liquid from the tank, so that when the bottle holder G is in mid position, as indicated in the drawings, the valves for permitting `the liquid to flow into the bottles are closed. As the bottle holder G is moved in one direction or the other from themid position, one row of empty bottles is brought beneath the tank and filled, while a row of full bottles is being removed from the bottle holder by an operator. The valve operating and controlling means and the means for reciprocating the bottle holder are preferably simultaneously actuated, so that the machine is automatic in operation.

A longitudinal rock shaft O is mounted in bearings in the downwardly projecting portions P of the frames B. The bottle holder G in this instance is provided with a rack Q meshing with a pinion R mounted in the brackets S beneath the table. The pinion R meshes with the toothed segment T mounted on the rock shaft O, so that as the shaft O is rocked, the bottle holder G is moved horizontally in one direction or the other.

The frames B are preferably provided with vertical guides U upon which slide the plates V having the toes W for conveniently supporting the tank K. By this means, the tank K may be vertically raised and low ered for a purpose to hereinafter appear. At the ends of the rock shaft O, preferably outside of the frames B, are secured the cams X having the high portions Y and the low portions Z. Extending through suitable guides a on the frames B are the lifting rods c mounted for vertical movement and provided at their lower ends with the rollers d forming followers for the cams X. The upper ends of the lifting rods c are suitably connected to the movable plates V as by means of the bolts e. Outside of the cams X may be provided the hand levers f secured to the rock shaft O. The rock shaft O may be rocked by an opera-tor at either end of the machine, who manipulates one of the hand levers f to one side or the other of the center. I/Vith the parts in the position shownin the drawings, the high port-ions Y of the cams X are uppermost and the tank K is in its uppermost position. lVhen the followers d bear upon the low portions Z of the cams, the tank K is in its lowermost position.

The topV beam C is preferably provided with the n oltch'ed plates g at each end, guided as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 on the guides U of the end frames B and means are provided for adjusting the vertical height of the beam C. The plates g are apertured to receive the bolts h having the nuts j, and the end frames B are provided with the caps 7c suitably bolted to the frames by the bolts c. In assembling the parts, the guide plates g of the beam C are placed in position on the guide flanges Il of the frames B, then the caps 7c Vare bolted in position and the bolts h are adjusted holding the beam in position. The beam C may be adjusted vertically by adjusting the bolts la. The lift-ing rods c are preferably made adjustable, as indicated more fully in Fig. 7 in which the lifting rods are shown comprising three portions, as for instance, the screw threaded end portionso and p connected by the screw threaded sleeve g so that by adjusting the sleeve g the length of the lifting Vrods c may be varied, thus varying the vertical movement Y of the tankK.

In order to control the flow of liquid from the tank K, said tank is preferably provided with apertures 1^ in its bottom s and valve spindles t are supported by the beam C and extend downwardly through the tank opposite the apertures 1'. These valve spindles are preferably provided with rubber plates orwashers tron their lower ends and may also have the centering projections o eX- tending below the washers u and adapted to enter the apertures 1. The apertures r may be provided with the conical sleeves w 'fo-r centering the bott-les, and flaring cupshaped flanges fu may be provided below the Vopenings r adapted to be lowered over the bottle mouths. In the drawings, a double Vrow of bottles a: is shown in position in the bottle holder andsaid bottle holder G lnay be provided with the partitions y'and the drain aperture z.'

In the operation of the apparatus so far described, the tank K is vertically movable, while the spindles Vare relatively stationary. :When the tank K is moved upwardly, the edges of the opening o in the tank bottom ks abut against the washers u on the lower ends of the valve spindle t, thus closing said openings and preventing the How of liquid therefrom. `When a row of empty bottles is in position underneath the openings r the tank is lowered, centering the openings r over the tops of the bottles and the liquid may flow through the conical sleeves or nozzles w into the bottles until they are filled. The tank is then again raised and the flow of liquid cut off. Let it be assumed that the hand lever f is lirst moved from the central position indicated in Fig. 3, to the right or clockwise, as F ig. 3 is viewed, until said lever stands at an angle of about 45 degrees at the right. The follower or roller (l will then be resting upon a low portion Z of the cam X. .In the movement of the lever f to the right, the rock shaft O is rotated and with it the toothed segment T. The pinion R is rotated counter clockwise and the rack Q. and bottle holder G are moved to the left, bringing one set of bottles ai underneath the nozzles w and the tank K is simultaneously lowered, permitting the liquid to lill the bottles. A row of empty bottles has been replaced in the bottle holder and the lever f is rotated backward counter clockwise. The tank is first raised, cutting olil the flow of liquid, and the bottle holder is moved to the right, bringing a row of empty bottles beneath the nozzles w and the filling operation is repeated, while the full bottles are being removed and replaced with empty ones at the opposite side of the machine. The operation is continuous and three attendants may conveniently operate the machine, one to manipulate a lever f and one to stand at each side of the machine.

The adjustments provided by the adjustable lifting rods c and the ability to adjust the height of the valve spindles t enables the machine to be adjusted for bottles or receptacles of different heights and sizes, which is an important feature of the invention. The simultaneous operation and control of the feeding mechanism and the bottle holding mechanism is also another important feature, since one operator controls the bottling operation. 7e have found that it is desirable to maintain the height of liquid in the tank K as nearly constant as possible in the operation of the machine, in order to maintain the pressure and iiow substantially constant. To this end we have devised means for controlling the height of the liquid in the tank, preferably operated as by means of a fioat 2 connected to toggle acting levers. The top 3 of the tank, if a cover is used, may be provided with an inlet opening 4. A casing 5 is shown above the opening 4 and a valve opening 6 is provided in said casing 5. Over the nozzle 7 may be connected a hose 8 in turn connected to a tank of the liquid to be fed. A valve in the form of a rubber washer 9 is secured to a valve stem 10 passing through the valve opening 6 and the lowerend of said valve stem 10 may be forked, straddling a lever 11, passing through the side of the casing 5 and pivoted at 12 on a bracket 13. The opposite end of the lever 11 is pivoted to a link 14 which in turn is pivoted at 15 to the casing 5. The said link 14 eXtends outside of the casing 5 and at its outer end is provided with a link 16 pivoted to a vertical rod 17 carried by t-he float 2. With this construction of valve and valve operating levers,`it will be seen that when the feed tank K is full, the rising of the float carries the outer end of the link 14 upwardly, thus depressing the lower end and forcing the lever 11 downwardly, so that the pressure of the incoming liquid through the pipe 8 closes the valve 9. As the liquid in the tank K falls, the descent of the float 2 raises the valve 9 and permits further liquid to flow into the tank K. In actual operation, we have found that theI construction described or an equivalent construction, maintains the liquid level of the tank K substantially constant. In bottling such liquids as vinegar, for instance, the parts coming in contact with the liquid should be preferably made of wood, and for this reason the valve spindles 25 are preferably made of wood and the links and levers and valve stem comprising the controlling valve are also preferably made of wood.

1We have found this apparatus to operate satisfactorily and well for the purposes for which it is intended. The parts are simple to construct and are not liable to get out of order, and the materials used are such that corrosive liquids may be bottled satisfactorily. The necessary adjustments for the production of an efficient machine are provided and the bottling may be done conveniently and quickly without unnecessary waste of time.

We claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, liquid feeding devices, a bottle holder movable transversely under the liquid feeding de vices, and means for reciprocating said bottle holder back and forth on the table and simultaneously therewith controlling the fiow of liquid from said liquid feeding devices in accordance with the position of the bottle holder.

2. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, a tank having a plurality of openings in its bottom, a bottle holder movable on the table transversely under the tank, and means for reciprocating said bottle holder and simultaneously therewith controlling said openings in the tank in accordance with the position of the bottle holder.

3. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, liquid feeding devices vertically movable on said frame, a bottle holder movable transversely on the table under said feeding devices, and means for reciprocating the holder and simultaneously therewith controlling said feeding' devices in accordance with the posi-tion of the holder.

4. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, liquid feeding devices vertically movable on said frame, a bottle holder adapted to be reciprocated horizontally under the feeding devices, and means for horizontally reciprocating the holder and simultaneously therewith moving the feeding devices vertically in accordance with the position of the holder.

5. In a bott-le filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, liquid feeding devices vertically movable on said frame, a bottle holder adapted to be reciprocated horizontally under the feeding devices, means for reciprocating the bottle holder on the table, and means operated simultaneously therewith for closing the feeding devices when the bottle holder is in substantially mid position of its travel and for opening the feeding devices when the bottle hold-er is at either side of its mid position.

6. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, a tank supported on said frame, adjustable valves for controlling the flow from said tank, a bottle holder adapted to be reciprocated on the table under said tank, and means for reciprocating the bottle holder and simultaneously therewith controlling said valves in accordance with the position of the holder.

7 Ina bottle filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, a tank vertically movable in said frame having valve openings, valve spindles projecting downwardly into said tank cooperating with said valve openings, a bottle holder and means for reciprocating the same on said table, and means connected to said reciprocating means for vertically moving said tank in accordance with the travel of the holder to open and close the valve openings.

8. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, a tank vertically movable in said frame having valve openings, adjustable valve spindles projecting downwardly into said tank cooperating with said valve openings, a bottle holder and means for reciprocating the same on said table, and means connected to said reciprocating means for vertically moving said tank in accordance with the travel of the holder to open and close the valve openings.

9. In a bottle *filling machine, the combination of a table or support, a frame, a tank vertically movable in said frame having 'of the holder to open and close the valve openings.

In testimony whereof We have signed valve openings,y valve spindles projecting this specification in the presence of two subdownwardly into said tank coperating with said valve openings, a bottle holder and means for reciprocating the' same on said table, and adjustable means connected to said reciprocating means for vertically mov ing said tank in accordance with the travel i scribing Witnesses.

GEORGE ROVVOHLT. OTTO GIESEKE. litnessesz A. D. VVEEKES, Jr., HERBERT G. OGDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington. D. C. 

